Cruise ship raises eyebrows - and ire - as it anchors off Point Piper

By
Ilya Gridneff

An ocean liner anchored in the middle of Sydney Harbour is raising eyebrows in the lead up to New Year's Eve festivities. Pictures of the boat started appearing on social media on Monday showing it positioned just off Point Piper - one of the best positions to view the world-famous fireworks.

Cruise ship raises eyebrows - and ire - as it anchors off Point Piper

Anchored in Sydney Harbour ... the view from Wunulla Road, Point Piper.

An ocean liner anchored in the middle of Sydney Harbour is raising eyebrows in the lead up to New Year's Eve festivities.

Pictures of the boat started appearing on social media on Monday showing it positioned just off Point Piper - one of the best positions to view the world-famous fireworks.

But Radiance of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise liner, is simply seeking safe refuge from Cyclone Freda that is lashing the Pacific.

A Sydney Ports Corporation spokesman told Fairfax Media the boat was due to leave the Overseas Passenger Terminal this morning, but the ship's captain feared the conditions it would be sailing into.

"The captain sought permission to moor in Sydney Harbour for another night due to bad weather conditions. Considering there are 2500 passengers, of which 800 are kids, the Sydney Ports moved them to a mooring at the Point Piper buoy,” he said.

"We've received a few calls asking why the ship is there but once we explain people seem to be reasonable about it all," he said.

The spokesman added there was no other area in Sydney Harbour for the boat to safely dock while waiting for calmer seas.

The boat is expected to leave Sydney Harbour on Tuesday morning.

But smh.com.au reader Sonia King was not impressed with the move.

"The position and angle of this ugly eyesore has resulted in maximum obstruction to the views of revellers in parks and harbour locations. The decision was made without any thought whatsoever of the people of Sydney," she said.

One of the eastern suburbs' most famous residents, Malcolm Turnbull, in response to a concerned Twitter follower, tweeted: "I wonder what the state government has charged the cruise ship for the spot?"

Another tweep labelled the move #unAustralian, while legal-eagle Richard Ackland was one of the first to alert the twittersphere to the boat's whereabouts, saying: "Huge cruise ship plonked off Point Piper, blocking expensive views. Sounds of swearing waft across the water".

But for Lauren, one of the cruise liner passengers, she could not be happier with the pole position.